Corfu Airport Auto Rental: 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking

Corfu rewards the tourist who can flow on their possess time table. The island appears to be like small on a map but while you get off the principle roads, distances think longer, buses thin out, and taxis add up effortlessly. That is why so many traffic prefer up a motor vehicle the moment they land at Corfu International Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias.

I even have rented cars at Corfu airport for paintings and vacation trips, in high season and in late October drizzle. The trend is regularly the related. The folks that did some homework are on the road in 20 minutes. The ones who rushed the reserving stand in queues, argue over insurance coverage at the table and come across surprise expenditures on their card a week later.

If you desire a easy Corfu airport automobile apartment journey, the ideal lesson is to take note the place others move improper. The following ten blunders are those I see most often at Corfu airport, consisting of what to do in its place.

1. Assuming “airport automobile condo” at all times method on-site

Many travelers seek for “Corfu airport motor vehicle rental” or “appoint car or truck Corfu airport” and expect each and every consequence is in the terminal. It isn't really that elementary.

At Corfu, some manufacturers have desks within the arrivals corridor and their automobiles within the airport parking just throughout the road. Others perform “meet and greet” or go back and forth services and products. You go out arrivals, seek someone maintaining a small sign, and journey a minibus to an off web page lot a couple of minutes away.

That shouldn't be essentially unhealthy. Off web site firms is additionally cheaper and more versatile on things comparable to mileage or additional drivers. The situation looks whenever you are expecting to stroll to your vehicle in 5 minutes and alternatively lose 40 mins monitoring down a trip in 30 degree warm after a 3 hour flight from London.

If you prefer a easily on web site Corfu airport employ a automotive possibility, look at various rigorously. Look for transparent wording together with “desk interior terminal” or “on airport”. If the confirmation mentions a shuttle, assembly level or “office 400 m from terminal”, build that into your timings. It concerns on arrival, and it really concerns in case you have an early morning departure and desire to drop the auto and still assess in on time.

2. Booking most effective on worth and ignoring the assurance structure

I still see americans brag that they chanced on the “terrific motor vehicle rental Corfu airport” for 12 euros an afternoon in August. That base cost is incomprehensible devoid of figuring out the assurance.

In Greece, straight forward coverage ordinarily contains 1/3 social gathering liability and some model of collision wreck waiver (CDW) with a excessive excess. I have visible excesses from seven-hundred to 1,800 euros for an economic climate auto. If there may be destroy, you pay as much as that amount until you have got additional duvet.

The widely used mistakes are two. First, of us pass any excess quilt and go their arms, then spend their trip worrying approximately slim streets in Corfu Town. Second, they purchase an “extra refund” policy from a broker website online and do not understand that the condominium issuer will still block the full excess on their card at collection.

A reasonable mindset at Corfu airport car or truck condo counters is to settle on earlier the way you choose to deal with risk. Some travellers are delicate with a gigantic deposit simply because they have a mighty credit score card and revel in with condo claims. Others sleep greater with a “zero extra” bundle that fees more in step with day however shrinks the protection block and fiscal publicity.

Read the assurance section in the past you click on “Book”. Compare the charge of adding complete cover from the rental business with a standalone excess coverage from a credible insurer. There is not any unmarried right solution, yet strolling up to the table with out a plan is the fastest course to tension and luxurious upsells.

3. Not checking fuel coverage and mileage earlier than confirming

Corfu airport apartment autos essentially necessarily use the comparable couple of fuel rules. The main issue is they appearance comparable at a glance, but expense very completely different quantities over per week.

“Full to full” capacity you elect up the Corfu rent a car automobile with a full tank, go back it complete, and in simple terms pay for what you use. This is traditionally the fairest possibility, enormously when you plan to force across the island.

“Pre purchase” or “full to empty” method you pay for a tank of fuel at choice and will return it on fumes. It sounds convenient but hardly ever works for your favour until you can still essentially use most of the tank and the service provider bills gas at virtually pump expenditures plus a small value. Many do not.

Mileage is yet one more quiet entice. Most Corfu auto apartment corporations present limitless kilometres, which is ideal for exploring Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, the south coast and inland villages with out keen on distance. A few low rate presents hide a according to kilometre price above a modest every single day decrease.

If your affirmation electronic mail is imprecise or makes use of phrases you do no longer know, electronic mail or message the friends and ask for readability. You would like written confirmation of the two gasoline coverage and mileage. Verbal reasons at a hectic airport desk are clean to misconceive and masses more durable to dispute later.

four. Overlooking using realities on Corfu whilst settling on automotive size

Looking at smooth pix, it really is tempting to upgrade to a larger automobile. More space for luggage, more advantageous air conditioning, possibly even an automated for comfort. On Corfu, the bigger the automobile, the greater you desire to reflect onconsideration on where you intend to force.

The avenue from the airport into Corfu Town is large ample, but as soon as you wander into older districts, roads slender to 1 lane with stone walls on the two sides and tight corners around structures. Some coastal villages and hilltop settlements are even tighter, with parking that slightly matches a compact hatchback.

If you might be staying at a resort on the key east coast street, a bigger auto would possibly not be a concern. If your villa is up a steep lane within the north of the island, a small to medium auto with respectable force and fabulous turning circle is a far improved option than a bulky SUV. I actually have watched humans spend 15 minutes maneuvering a tremendous motor vehicle out of a lane that turned into definitely designed for scooters and donkeys.

For most viewers, the candy spot for Corfu airport vehicle condominium is a small or compact vehicle, guide or automatic depending to your comfort. Enough boot space for luggage, yet small ample to slide into tight parking spaces and meet oncoming visitors with room to respire.

five. Ignoring evaluations of targeted Corfu airport branches

Many travellers do a speedy assess of the brand call and cease there. They see a full-size world corporate they realize from dwelling house, think a established feel, and reserve. In observe, department first-class can vary greatly.

Search particularly for the service provider title plus “Corfu airport” and study the current experiences for that position. Patterns count greater than private proceedings. If one man or woman mentions a longer wait time, which can just be a hectic Saturday in August. If 20 employees across three months file competitive ruin claims or unexplained bills, pay realization.

This counsel applies equally to local providers. Some small Corfu hire a automobile establishments close to the airport are high quality, with pleasant provider and versatile insurance policies. Others minimize corners or rely on technicalities to lift gross sales. Reviews regularly make the change clear.

A 15 euro difference on per week’s condominium isn't really valued at an uncongenial argument over “pre existing” scratches you had been not at all allowed time to report.

6. Not preparing your records and card correctly

One of the dullest difficulties, yet I nonetheless watch it unfold in line at the airport every summer. The forms for hiring a automobile in Greece is simple, but there are a couple of fabulous info.

You almost always want:

1. A valid riding licence which you have held for no less than 365 days, in many instances two, based at the business and vehicle organization.
2. For non EU / EEA drivers from special international locations, an International Driving Permit along your own home licence. Check this ahead, because you won't be able to acquire an IDP when you are already in Greece.
3. A credit card within the fundamental driver’s name with adequate accessible reduce to conceal the deposit or excess block.
4. Passport or country wide ID card for id.

Where humans get stuck is with the cardboard. Many Corfu airport automotive rental desks do now not take delivery of debit playing cards for the security deposit, most effective for price. Others settle for them yet simply with pricey greater assurance. Prepaid playing cards are most commonly refused outright.

If your confirmation does not clearly state that debit cards are general for the deposit, expect you desire a widespread credit card with embossed name and numbers. Also verify the card reduce is high enough. I watched a couple from Germany turned away because their modest reduce could not accommodate a 1,500 euro block for the extra plus their resort’s pre authorisation.

Print or shop your affirmation e mail as a PDF, inclusive of the voucher whenever you booked due to a broking. Mobile net at Corfu airport is routinely first-rate, yet a dead battery or roaming component must always no longer stand among you and your car or truck.

7. Chasing “no deposit” supplies devoid of examining the small print

The word “Corfu airport motor vehicle condominium no deposit” is alluring, principally if you happen to dislike the notion of hundreds of euros blocked on your card. Genuine low deposit or no deposit techniques do exist, but the satan sits within the detail.

Usually, while a employer advertises no deposit, it skill one in every of two matters. Either they've equipped the probability into a top day-after-day charge with essential complete insurance plan, or they're going to nevertheless continue a smaller amount as a gas or site visitors effective assurance. Sometimes both.

There is not anything wrong with paying a little bit more for the peace of intellect that comes from no longer having 1,000 euros frozen for your card. Just recognise what you are buying. Check:

The specific amount they'll hold in your card, if any.

Whether the no deposit be offering is tied to a specific insurance coverage bundle. How they cope with minor injury, akin to small scratches or chips.

Compare this to a wellknown package deal from one other organization that uses a deposit yet gives you slash premiums. Over every week’s break, the complete price can swing both approach. The worst mistake is to guide at the energy of “no deposit” by myself and then discover an extended list of exclusions and additional expenses while you attain the table.

8. Skipping the inspection and image activities at pickup

You are worn-out, the queue has been slow, and the seashore is asking. The agent aspects to the auto, you signal the shape, throw your baggage inside the boot and force off. That 5 minute shortcut can settlement dearly if there's present spoil that never made it onto the file.

At Corfu airport, the place dozens of cars rotate between renters each and every week in summer time, small bumps and scrapes are hobbies. Most agencies are sincere approximately this and mark the whole lot they recognise. Some should not thorough, primarily at peak times.

Treat your inspection as element of the condominium, now not a nuisance. Walk round the automobile, take a look at every panel, the wheels, and the entrance and rear bumpers especially. Pay concentration to:

Small scratches and dents.

Alloy wheel scuffs and hubcap harm. Chips or cracks inside the windscreen. Any break at the roof whenever you are tall ample or can see from an angle.

Photograph the entirety, even topics which can be already marked. Capture the automobile from every one nook, the odometer examining, and the gasoline gauge. Time stamped photos for your cell create a rfile it is complicated to argue with later.

Encourage the team member to add any missing marks to the model sooner than you signal. If they seem to be reluctant, remain polite yet company. A jiffy the following is valued at a ways greater than an indignant email exchange after you return dwelling house.

nine. Forgetting to devise parking and access at your accommodation

Corfu airport vehicle apartment is the light piece. The tougher phase, tremendously in peak season, is living with the automobile whenever you succeed in your accommodation.

Many antique villages and some portions of Corfu Town have very constrained parking. Some beachfront hotels have confidential plenty, others rely thoroughly on public areas that refill in a timely fashion in July and August. Steep deepest driveways are typical for villas, sometimes with awkward angles and unfastened gravel.

Before you publication, ask your accommodation approximately parking in distinct, life like phrases. Do now not settle for “parking out there”. Ask whether it can be confidential or public, what number of areas they've, how tight the access is, and no matter if higher automobiles more healthy readily.

This should always result not most effective your resolution of condominium car or truck size, as referred to previous, however additionally even if you even desire a auto on your overall reside. For instance, in the event you are spending three nights in Corfu Town after which every week in a north coast village, you'll do improved to spend the 1st half walking and taxis, then manage a Corfu airport auto apartment starting on the day you depart metropolis.

Thinking in segments like it will store payment, parking headaches and the rigidity of threading a automotive with the aid of the metropolis’s one way system whilst you are nonetheless jet lagged.

10. Returning the car in a hurry and neglecting the basics

I actually have misplaced rely of what number of disputes soar at drop off considering that the renter is hurrying to seize a flight. When you are rushing, you overlook gasoline, you park the place you should not imagined to, otherwise you hand over keys with out checking the final forms.

Give your self a accurate buffer for return. If your flight is at thirteen:00, do not plan to roll into the auto park at 11:45, rather should you rented off website and desire a go back and forth experience to come back to the terminal.

At go back, goal to:

1. Refill the tank at a station on the point of the airport once you are on a complete to full policy. Keep the receipt. There are a few petrol stations within a short drive, but a few is also busy.
2. Remove all very own gadgets from the car, which includes door pockets and less than seats.
3. Walk round the automobile with the agent the place doubtless and ask them to be certain in writing that the car is lower back and not using a new damage and with a complete tank if suited.
4. Take closing snap shots, together with the gasoline gauge and odometer.

If you'll want to use a key drop container in view that you are returning outside place of job hours, graphics and a speedy video walkaround come to be even extra outstanding. Corfu airport lease a auto suppliers pretty much manage those returns reasonably, however a clear visual list protects you in case a new dent seems to be at the inspection sheet later.

A speedy pre booking checklist

Used properly, a automobile turns Corfu into a versatile, elementary island to discover. Used badly, it turns into a thread of anxiety operating thru your excursion. Before you decide to any airport automobile rent Corfu deal, run by this short record.

1. Verify if the corporation is on airport or off web page with a trip, and how that affects your timings.
2. Read current studies specially for the Corfu airport department, now not simply the brand.
3. Compare whole can charge, which includes coverage, gasoline policy and any mileage limits, now not just the bottom on daily basis cost.
4. Check parking and access at your lodging and choose auto measurement as a result.
5. Confirm what playing cards and documents you desire and whether any “no deposit” offer has restrictive prerequisites.

Handled with this level of awareness, Corfu airport rental cars feel much less like a chance and extra like a smartly controlled software for your ride.

Final stories from the queue at Corfu airport

If you spend 30 minutes in the arrivals hall on a busy afternoon, you are able to basically expect who will breeze through and who will emerge as frustrated. The ones with printed confirmations, clear choices on insurance and realistic expectancies about the car and the island have a tendency to depart smiling. The ones who booked on rate alone and did no longer examine a note of the phrases are those arguing at the desk.

Corfu automobile condo does not need to be tough. It is in reality a count number of matching the certainty on the floor along with your own tolerance for chance, funds and using self belief. Look beyond headline rates, realize how insurance plan and deposits work, make a selection the perfect dimension of auto for Corfu’s roads, and supply yourself time at either pickup and go back.

Do that, and your lease a motor vehicle at Corfu airport will become what it may want to be: an user-friendly gateway to mountain villages, quiet shores and overdue dinners in small tavernas, in your very own clock rather then every person else’s.